Computational Methods

Question 1

Abstraction and Decomposition

Answer 1

Applying techniques like abstraction and decomposition help to simplify the complexity of a problem and break it down making it easier to write an algorithm to solve the problem

Question 2

Enumeration

Answer 2

Involves designing an algorithm that performs an exhaustive search and attempts all possible solutions until the correct one is found

Question 3

Theoretical Approach

Answer 3

If a problem can be boiled down to pure theory, it becomes easy to represent using mathematical equations and due to computers being great at maths these problems are great candidates for being solved by an algorithm

Question 4

Simulation

Answer 4

The process of designing a model of a real life system in an attempt to understand its behaviour

Question 5

Automation

Answer 5

Building problem-solving models and putting them into action

Question 6

Simulation and Automation

Answer 6

Both simulation and automation make heavy use of abstraction and are ways of turning complex problems into ones that can be more easily solved by algorithms

Question 7

Problem Decomposition

Answer 7

The process of taking a large problem and breaking it down into several smaller parts making the problem more manageable and easier to understand

Question 8

Divide and Conquer

Answer 8

A technique that reduces the size of a problem with each successive iteration

1.) Take a problem
2.) Apply some rules
3.) Based on the outcome of those rules, discard any data that doesn’t match
4.) Take the remaining data and start again from step 1

Question 9

Back Tracking

Answer 9

The process of incrementally building towards a solution, abandoning partial success when the solution can’t be completed and going back to a previously successful match

Question 10

Data Mining

Answer 10

Analysing vast amounts of data gathered from a variety of sources to discover new information and trends

Question 11

Heuristics

Answer 11

Using experience and estimates to find a solution that can be considered “good enough”

Question 12

Performance Modelling

Answer 12

The process of approximating how well models perform using mathematics

Question 13

Pipelining

Answer 13

Splitting a large task into manageable chunks and overlapping these smaller processes to speed up the overall process

Question 14

Visualisation

Answer 14

Allows a user to create a mental image of what a program will do or how it will work